GARDENING... AND THEN SOME

Over the course of time I have slowly embraced the complexities and simplicities of gardening. Along the way I have picked up an appreciation for self-sufficiency. Although I have a lot to learn, I feel like I am farther along than I was.

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For first time in a long time I have an overabundance of summer squash from the garden. Most of the time the pests are so bad that I end up with a diminished and damaged crop… but not this year.

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Mums that were planted last year. They are doing great.

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Amaryllis with four blooms.

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1/16/15.

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Gas was $2.94 per gallon around here on Halloween and as of December 19th it is down to $2.49.

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Every morning when I let the chickens out they run as fast as they can to the compost pile to see what's new.

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Finally back below $3.00 a gallon. How long will it last?

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Rhode Island Red

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I really like the Silver Laced Wyandotte chickens. They were pretty unattractive as chicks, but now their color is so unique.

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Fall sunflowers

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I'm trying out these vertical planters for my lettuce to help keep it out of the chicken's reach. So far so good.

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A fresh layer of mulch for the garden just in time for winter.

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The Fall garden, from top left. Squash, zucchini, sunflowers, pole beans, okra, and cucumbers. The row of pineapple is still doing well and a few amaranth came up from the Spring garden. The white cages are protecting the mustard and collard greens from the chickens.

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Vincas blooming in the garden.

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Fall garden update: the squash and cucumbers are producing. Also have rattlesnake beans and okra doing well. The tomato seedlings kind of stalled and I must have had bad lettuce seed. Still, it's coming right along.

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The bees enjoying some crystallized honey. Yes, it’s the same picture blown up a few times.

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The chickens are growing, but haven't laid yet. Silver Laced Wyandotte, Gold Laced Wyandotte, Rhode Island Red, Austrolorp, Brahma.